Former telecom minister Raja meets Karaunanidhi

Former telecom minister A Raja met Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam chief M Karaunanidhi in Chennai on Saturday, three-days after the Central Bureau of Investigation conducted raids at his residences in connection with the 2G scam. The outcome of the meeting held at Karaunanidhi's residence was, however, not known.

Raja had on Friday night said he would fully cooperate with the CBI, which is conducting raids at his residences in New Delhi and Chennai in connection with the 2G scam. "It is a scrutiny. I will fully cooperate with the agency. Whatever be the procedure, I have to comply with it," said Raja.

"No one is above scrutiny. I am ready for any procedure. If anything is needed by CBI, I will cooperate. That is all I want to say," he added.

The CBI on Wednesday raided the residences of A Raja and four officials in connection with the 2G scam in Delhi and Chennai.

The raids were also carried out at the residences of former telecom secretary Siddarth Behura, Chandolia, Member of Telecom Commission K Sridhar and Deputy Director General in the Department of Telecom A K Srivastava, CBI sources said.

The CBI earlier searched offices of Wireless Planning Cell, the department responsible for allocating spectrum, and the office of deputy director general (access services) of the telecom ministry to probe the allegations of connivance of officials with private companies in allocation of Spectrum.

The Supreme Court, which is hearing various cases related to the 2G scam, had come down heavily on the CBI recently, asking why it had not questioned Raja even though the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General faulted him for under-valuing the 2G spectrum.

The apex court had also asked why officials who would have been in the know, like the former telecom secretary, had not been questioned. It also asked Raja why he had overruled the Prime Minister Dr Mammohan Singh on 2G spectrum.

Raja was forced to resign last month under considerable pressure from the Congress, which continues to be attacked in the Parliament by the Opposition on corruption charges.

The 2G spectrum allocation has reportedly caused an alleged loss of Rs1.76 lakh crores to the government, the CAG has stated in a report.